GAZELLES AND CH1RU—DEER 231 



That these two series of colour are dependent, in some degree at any rate, on 

 environment and altitude, seems almost certain, but the reason of the development 

 of the yellow remains a mystery. Animals inhabiting hot moist regions are known 

 to display a tendency to melanism, while in certain other localities there is a 

 similar tendency to erythrism ; but this development of a golden tint in two groups 

 from central and eastern China seems unparalleled. The length of the coat in the 

 golden takin and golden monkey may be explained by the coldness of the high 

 ranges on which these animals dwell ; a similar feature characterising the Sze- 

 chuan bamboo rat (Rhizomys vestitus) as compared with its lowland relatives, 

 but this has nothing to do with colour 



Takin are now known to inhabit the Mishmi Hills, Bhutan, Sze-chuan, Kan-su, 

 and the Tsin-lin Shan. In the later Tertiary period the group appears to be 

 represented by the extinct Bucapra of the Siwalik Hills of northern India, at 

 present known only by a single imperfect skull, unfortunately lacking the 

 horn-cores. 



Takin inhabit thick bamboo-jungle, and are adepts in getting over rough and 



precipitous ground. 



Gazelles Of the antelopes there are several representatives in the Chinese 



and cniru. area. Of the goitred gazelle, a local race (Gazella subgutturosa 



sairensis) inhabits the Altai, while the Saikik gazelle (G. yarcandensis) is a 



native of Kashgaria. The Mongolian gazelle (G. gutturosa) is a native of the 



region from which it takes its name, and, like the goitred species, is characterised 



by the presence of a dilatable sac in the throat of the males. Of a very different 



type is the goa or Tibetan gazelle (G. picticaudata), which is found at heights of 



from 13,000 to 18,000 feet in Ladak and Tibet. Nearly allied is Przewalski's gazelle 



(G. przewalskii) of Mongolia. Ladak and Tibet are likewise the habitat of the 



chiru or Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni), the sole representative of its kind^ 



characterised by its inflated nose the long slender black horns of the bucks, and 



the presence of only two pairs of premolar teeth in each jaw. 



Deer are numerously represented in this extensive tract. Of the 

 Deer. . . .... 



wapiti (Cervus canadensis), which is typically a North American 



species, there are several local races, such as the Tian Shan race (G. canadensis 

 songaricus), the Siberian race (C. canadensis asiaticus), and the Manchurian race 

 (C. canadensis xanthopygus) ranging into Amurland. The Bokhara wapiti (C. c. 

 bactrianus) is another race of the same species, while a fifth is the Tibetan wapiti 

 G. c. wardi. Very distinct from the wapiti type is the Yarkand deer (G. yarcand- 

 ensis) of the forests of the Tarim Valley. Other types are the hangul (G. cash- 

 mirianus) of the valley of Kashmir and adjacent districts, and the pale grey 

 Sze-chuan G. macneilli, with a darker race, G. m. kansuensis, in Kan-su. The 

 mansarowar (G. wallichi), of which the shou (G. w. ajjinis), of upper Sikhim and 

 the district north of Bhutan, is a local race, is a large stag of somewhat allied type. 

 More distinct is the white-muzzled Thorold's deer (C. albirostris) of eastern Tibet. 



All the foregoing belong to the typical group of the genus, but the sikas, 

 which are peculiar to this tract, form a group confined to the area under considera- 

 tion. The largest of these is the Pekin sika (C. hortulorum) of Manchuria, 

 represented by a smaller race (C. hortulorum kopschi) in the Yang-tsi Valley This 



